Unwanted hair is the bane of our existence. If you want to go to the beach or look cute for a night out, you have to spend hours beforehand to make sure that there is no unwanted hair in any place that you do not want them to be.
But making sure your body is free of unwanted hair is a long and arduous process. No matter how hard you try, you may still leave patches here and there, and be stuck trying to cover them up as best as you can. Sometimes, you may even realize after years that you have been doing it all wrong. Needless to say, removing body hair is not a fun task.
Is There A Best Technique That I Can Use?
The first question which comes to mind when you think about removing body hair is which technique would be the best. Since there are so many ways in which you can go about removing body hair, you have to wonder whether there is a single best method. Well, the short answer to that is no, there is not a single best method for hair removal.
While one method may be better suited for some skin types, and work wonders for some people, the same method might leave others with barely acceptable results. Everyone has a different skin type and hence, the method which will suit them the best also differs.
What Are Some Hair Removal Methods?
From shaving to laser treatments, there are several methods that you can use to get rid of the unwanted hair on your body.
• Shaving: Perhaps the cheapest and the most convenient solution for everyone out there. This method is the most convenient since you do not need any extra help when removing body hair. Just buy a decent razor, and you are good to go. While many women prefer men’s razor to shave their arms and legs, it is recommended that they use razors designed specifically for women. The reason for this is that the razors that are designed for men are not fit for shaving the soft and delicate skin of your arms and legs; in fact, it may cause you to injure yourself more often and create abrasions on the skin. Shaving your skin with any razor creates small cuts (not visible to the naked eyes) on your skin, and since the razor cuts your hair at an angle, it increases the possibilities of ingrown hair. This is the reason why many women use their razors only when times are desperate. The only saving grace of using a razor is its convenience and that it has a mild exfoliating effect which helps remove dead skin from your body leaving it feeling soft and smooth.
• Hair Removal Creams: A slight step-up form razors, but more time consuming are hair removal creams. The creams reduce the risk of getting ingrown hairs since they burn the hair follicle at the skin level. Thus you get results which last longer than simply shaving your body. But these results do come at a cot. Since these creams burn the hair follicle at the skin level, they may also cause a chemical burn if you keep on the skin for too long. Hence, the risk of using such creams before a big day is quite high. If you have sensitive skin, you may get bumps and rashes on your skin even if you leave them on for a few seconds. Hence, you should check your skin type before you opt for this method of hair removal.
• Threading: This method is not suited for the entire body, but is the preferred method by any to keep their eyebrows and upper lip looking clean. This method involves the use of a twisted string that is used to scrape of clumps of hair from the sensitive areas of your face such as your eyebrows and delicate upper lips. Not only is this method painful, but it requires a trained professional. This method cannot be performed at home by oneself since it is an art form. You can not only get rid of extra hair on your face but also change the shape of your eyebrows with this nifty technique, however, ensure that you go to a well trained professional otherwise you might get your skin scraped off along with your hair!
• Waxing: I’m sure many were waiting for this name to pop-up on the list since it is a popular method which makes your hair stay away for a long time. This method is as close to permanent hair removal as you can get, without actually getting under the laser. With waxing, you can make sure your hair stays away for at least a month so that you can enjoy your smooth skin for a long time. However, one of the biggest downside to waxing is that it is excruciating, and it does require the help of a professional. Although you can use at home waxing kits, most will agree that going to professional yields better results. Additionally, waxing may cause irritation to the skin and even bleeding in case of some people. Hence, waxing is not the best option for a lot of people.
• Epilators: These devices are used to pull the hair out directly from the root, using spinning discs or tweezers. They are just as effective as waxing and have the same downsides of redness and skin irritation. However, depilatory devices can be a bit expensive, but they are a one-time investment. This method helps your skin stay hair free for a long time.
• Electrolysis: This is a permanent hair removal method that is opted by many to remove unwanted hair on their body. The method involves the use of a device which is inserted into every hair follicle to burn the follicle and destroy using heat o chemicals. Obviously, this method can be very painful, as well as time-consuming it is conducted across several sessions, and you may need to wait a long while before you can see the results that you want. If you decide to opt for this method, ensure that you research your practitioner thoroughly, as a botched session can leave you with permanent scarring in your body.
• Laser Treatments: Laser treatments are another permanent method of hair removal which is gaining a lot of popularity, even more than electrolysis. This method targets hair follicles by sending in laser beams through the pigmented hair on your boy; this method may sound attractive since it will erase any worries you have about having hair on your body, the downsides to it are a lot more than you think. First of all, if you have very dark skin, this method may not apply to you since it targets the pigmentation of the hair. Hence, if you have very dark skin, it may target your skin causing damage. Secondly, very fine and less pigmented hair cannot be targeted; again, since it targets deeply pigmented hair, white hair will not be affected by this method. The post-laser treatment care routine is very time consuming and requires the use of particular products; you will face a lot of restrictions with what you can or cannot do after each session your skin will be too sensitive, and hence, you will not be able to go about your everyday life as before. Additionally, laser treatments may not be a permanent solution for all; some people may see hair appear on their body after a few years and hence will need to go back for a touch-up.
Removing unwanted hair from body can be a pain, both literally and figuratively, but it can leave behind a softer and smoother looking skin if you are someone who does not like the look of hair on your body, then you may want to take a more permanent route than having to tend to it every few days, which can eat up a lot of their time. However, no matter which technique you opt for; remember that each method comes with its downsides.